Nicole L. Lavery

  • Associate Professor
    Occupational Therapy Program

Dr. Lavery holds many roles within the Erie community.    As an occupational therapist, Dr. Lavery has fifteen years’ experience in pediatrics, low vision and community practice.  Dr. Lavery began her career in pediatric occupational therapy at the Achievement Center followed by Shriner’s Hospital, where she created several advanced programs for children, including a visual motor clinic, and feeding clinic.  Dr. Lavery moved into low vision and community practice at the Sight Center of Northwestern PA and as the Director of Clinical Services, she directed the optics program, the children’s program, and assisted the optometrist in the creation and implementation of Erie’s only low vision clinic.  She was also responsible in creating and overseeing new programming at the Sight Center where she developed a summer sports camp, technology, and daily life skills programs for the youth of Erie with low vision or blindness.  In 2017, Dr. Lavery earned her doctorate degree from Chatham University in Pittsburgh PA, and accepted a full time professorship position at Gannon University. As an assistant professor at Gannon University, Dr. Lavery is responsible for teaching both undergraduates and graduate occupational therapy students about their professional roles in psycho-social issues, medical science, emerging models of occupational therapy practice and advanced theory and technique.  Her main interests include creating and implementing community programs, community outreach and emerging models of practice. Dr. Lavery has also participated in and created an international clinical experience for her students in both Quito Ecuador, and Mexico City, Mexico.  Dr. Lavery’s roles in the community include the Commisshioner of Conference for the POTA, Co-Chair of the POTA Mental Health Task Force,  Board Chair of L'Arche Erie, Elected democratic committeeperson for District 23 in PA, and co-owner and vice-president of Lavery Brewing Company in Erie PA.
  • OT Intervention Psychosocial Mental Health Lectures I &II 
  • OT Intervention Psychosocial Mental Health Labs, I & II 
  • Advise OT Thesis Groups I &II 
  • Fieldwork coordinator for Level 1 Psychosocial Experiences
  • Medical Sciences for Occupational Therapy 
  • Emerging Models of Practice 
  • Advanced Theory and Techniques
  • Professional Issues 
  • First Year Seminar 
  • International Fieldwork Level I in Psychosocial Mental Health Mexico City, Mexico
  • International Fieldwork Level I in Pediatrics in Quito, Ecuador
     

Chatham University in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Doctor of Occupational Therapy    December 2015
Capstone project: Increasing participation in children with vision impairments through parent education and sports

Gannon University in Erie Pennsylvania
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy  May 2004
Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences   May 2003

Director of Vision and Youth Services; Low Vision Therapist
Sight Center of Northwest PA

Pediatric Orthopedic Occupational Therapist
Shriners Hospitals for Children, Erie Pa

Pediatric Occupational Therapist
The Achievement Center, Erie, Pa

Independent Contractor
Therapy Source, New Prussia, PA

  • American Occupational Therapy Association
  • Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association
  • Kinesio Taping Association
Publications
  • Lavery, N (2021) Occupational Health and Breweries: A Collaborative Approach. MBAA TQ 58(1), 34-36.  https://doi.org/10.1094/TQ-58-1-0104-01
  • Lavery, N., (2021) Participation Matters: Children with Visual Impairments and Sports. OT Practice Magazine, 26(7), 14-17.
  • Lavery, N., Chapman, S., Deck, B., Hansrote, R., Hites, H., Howell, S., & Keane, C. (in press). Brewery Ergonomics: A Focus on Occupational Deficits within the Brewing Industry. American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Conference Presentations

  • Lavery, N., Makadone-Malone, D. Mental Health Networking Event. Presentation for the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association State Conference. Virtual Conference, October 2020.
  • Lavery, N., Makadone-Malone, D. Mental Health Update.  Presentation for the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association General Members. November 2020.
  • Lavery, N., & Makadone-Malone, D. (2021, October 13). Mental Health Task Force Update [Conference Session]. Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association State Conference, Virtual, PA, USA.
  • Lavery, N., Finnie, S. (2021, September 10) Brewery Ergonomics: How to Stay Safe and Healthy in Your Brewery. [Conference Session].  Craft Brewers Conference, Denver CO., USA
  • Lavery, N., Finnie, S. (2021, November 1) Brewery Ergonomics: How to Stay Safe and Healthy in Your Brewery. [Conference Session].  Brewers of Pennsylvania Annual Symposium, Penn State, PA., USA
  • Chair of the Board for L’Arche Erie 
  • Chair of the Governance Committee of L’Arche Erie 
  • Chair of the Executive Committee of L’Arche Erie 
  • Vice Chair of the Board of L’Arche 
  • Chair: Development Committee on the L’Arche Erie Board 
  • Director: Sight Center Xsightabilities Sports Camp 
  • Appointed to the Democratic Committee for the Millcreek District 23
  • Elected Official Democratic Committeewoman for the Millcreek District 23
  • Commissioner of Conference: POTA
  • Co-Chair: Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Mental Health Task Force 
  • Delegate Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Legislation and Advocacy Committee for District VII 
Nicole L. Lavery

+1 8148715671
Office: M 045

Contact Nicole Lavery